Sheet-piling wall and method of installing same



Nov. 13 1923.

L. B. LANGWORTHY SHEET FILING WALL AND METHOD OF INSTALLING SAME In'venforz L man BLangworfyM Filed March 2. 1920 Til 8 wif'nesses M@%W,

Patented Nov. 13, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFTcE.

LYMAN B. LANGWORTHY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO TITLE & TRUST 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS, TRUSTEE.

SHEET-FILING WALL AND METHOD OF INSTALLING SAME.

Application filed March 2, 1920. Serial No. 362,882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LYMAN B. LANGWOR- THY, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and Stat of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Piling Walls and Methods of InstalL ing Same, of which the following is a specification.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form or construction of walls for water-fronts, docks, piers, break-waters, jetties, retaining walls for canals and rivers, bulk heads, cofl'er dams, foundations for bridges, and other constructions where a strong permanent monolithic impervious wall is desired; to provide a form and design for such a wall adapted to economize material and labor; to provide a wall of the character stated which may be deeply and securely anchored and which shall berigid and strong to resist side pressure; to provide-such a wall of comparatively light weight and correspondingly small material content; to provide such a wall. of composite and paneled character; to provide means for securing the panels in place relative to the intermediate parts or key piles; to provide means for securing the wall parts in substantially integral relation for imparting a monolithic character to the finished product; and to provide for ready handling of the component members of the wall previous to and in the process of assembling same.

An. illustrative embodiment of this inven tion is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a rear elevation or back view of the assembled wall.

1 Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 3 illustrates a panel reinforcing member. I

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through the retaining wall and also shows how anchorage means may be installed if desired.

Figs. 5 and 6 show wallsin which the piles have a top panel-guide or lug and a vertical series of such means respectively, the top guide being embodied in the coping, and the next lower guide, in Fig. 6, being below the water level.

Fig. 7 is a section at 77 on Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view of a fragment of the wall including a right-angled turn or corner.

In the construction shown in the drawings, particularly Fig. 1, the Wall 1 comprises a series of alternately disposed deep anchoring means or key piles 2, and connecting panels 3 with a coping or curb 4 along the top. The piles 2 are comparatively long to extend well down into the solid earth so as to insure a firm foundation for the wall. The panels 3 are only long enough to enter the ground sufiiciently to prevent seepage or back wash thereunder.

Each pile 2 is provided with a lateral .flange or rabbet 5 on each front corner, as

shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to guide and secure the panel 3 against forward displacement by pressure of the earth 6 or other material retained by the wall. Corner piles may have similar flanges 5' as shown in Fig. 8.

Reinforcing means 7 and 8 are provided for the piles 2 and panels 3 respectively, which means are adapted to be mutually interlocked in a bonding member when the wall parts are assembled, as will be eX- plained.

Vertical grooves 9 and 10 are provided in mutual registry in the edges of said piles and panels, and said reinforcing means 7 and 8 are so proportioned as to project somewhat into said grooves, as shown in Fig. 2. Said grooves may be continuous throughout the length of the panels, but may be closed as at 11 on Fig. 1, depending on conditions. On the pile, the complementary groove will extend only the length of the panel or the panel groove. Said grooves provide a pocket for a filler or key 12 of grout, concrete. cement-mortar or the like.

The panel reinforcement 8 may be of any desired design adapted to insure adequate strength for the panel 3, provided, however, it shall include laterally projecting parts 8' extending not only into the grooves 10 but well over into the pile grooves 9. The edge parts 8' must be of a form adapted to interlock readily with the key filler 12 subsequently applied. To this end, the reinforcing means 8 may include a rectangular grid or screen of substantial construction, and a series of vertically spaced relatively large horizontal bars 8" for guiding the panel down into place between the piles 2, and for engaging the subsequently applied keys 12.

Referring to the reinforcement 7 for the piles, a variety of specific designs may be used provided that said member includes a part projecting into the adjacent groove 7, and that said part is also adapted for secure lIy interlocking with the said key filler 12.

t may well bema'de in .two parts 7 and 7" disposed on opposite sides of the jetty tube 2'. The reinforcing members may to advantage be provided each with an upwardly projecting staple or handle 13 adapted to facilitate handling the corresponding wall members after the concrete has set about the reinforcements.-

In the specific construction shown in Fig. 5 the guide means on the pile 14 is in the form of a series of lugs 15 rather than a continuous rabbet flange such as shown in Figs. 1 and 4c.

In the form shown in Fig. 6 the guide means on pile 16 is in the form of a horizont'al outstanding rib 17 across the top with the ends of the rib projecting as at 18. This rib is eventually concealed by the finishing coping 19, and the face of the wall presents a smooth, even appearance. Similar ribs 20 may also be placed below the water line if desired.

a The method of constructing the wall is as followsi The piles and panels are made in suitable forms With the reinforcing members first set in place in the forms. The piles are then jettied or driven in proper spaced re lation along the line of the indented wall.

The panels are then lowered and jettied or driven into place between said piles with their front edges abutting snugly against the lugs or rabbets 5 0f the adjacent piles. A filler of concrete, grout or other suitable binding material is then poured or forced into the groove-pockets 9l0 where, upon setting, it firmly interlocks the piles and panels by enveloping the corresponding edges of the reinforcements 7 and 8. The coping or curb is then applied as usual in the construction of retaining walls.

The use of jet pipes ismore fully set forth in my copending application Serial No. 362,881, filed of even date herewith, which pipes or their use is not claimed herein.

Although but a few specific embodiments of this invention are herein shown and de scribed, it will be understood that some of the details of the constructions shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

edges.

I claim:

1. A composite wall of monolithic character, comprising a series of alternately ar ranged uncased concrete piles and relatively short concrete panels haying, interlocking relation to one another at their abutting A composite wall of monolithic character, comprisinga' plurality of alternately arranged reinforced concrete piles, and com paratively short reinforced concrete panels having interlocking relation to one another, the piles having side grooves and the panels having, means projecting into said grooves, said means being secured in a hard setting key in sai digrooves, which key constitutes a part of said wall. if

3. A wall of'nionolithic character, comprising a series ofvcrtically disposed laterally abutting unprotected piles and panels disposed.alternately, said piles and panels being, longitudinally grooved respectively in registry on their abutting sides whereby a tubular space is provided between each of adjacent members, projecting anchor age means structurally independent of each other carried by said piles and panels and extending into said tubular space and over lapping each other, and hard setting binder filling thespace surrounding said anchorage means and bonding said adjacent anchorage means together in positive'interlocking relation.

4, The method of forming a monolithic vertically paneled wall which consists in setting a series of piles in place in spaced relation, then lowering a corresponding series of edge grooved panels into place between said piles inmutually interfitting positive guiding relation, and then sealing the point with grout. j

5. A reinforced concrete wall unit of sheet pile like character having an edge groove positioned medially of its thickness and reinforcing bars embedded in said unit with' their end's projecting into said groove and eii'tending outwardly between the walls of said groove and beyond the corresponding edge of said unit. j H

6. A composite wall comprising a series of alternately arranged precast concrete piles and relatively short I precast concrete panels having interlocking relation to one another at their abutting edges.

Signed at Chicago this 5th day of Febru- LYMAN B. IJANGWORTHY. 

